I think the hardest part of tonight’s meltdown… aside from the hitting, kicking, biting and hurling everything in site at me was when Jojo was screaming “[I want] ‘Daddy is happy!’ “
He didn’t want me to be upset, but he wanted me to know that he was upset.
And he needed to know that I understood him.
Jonah was completely nonverbal just a few years ago.
He used to hug me and hit me at the same time. We called it the old hug/hit.
People would watch as my son hit me right in the face, and I didn’t so much as bat an eye.
But you know what?
I’m not going to punish my child for trying to communicate with me.
Especially when he just wants “Daddy is happy.”
People associate the “bad behavior” with malicious intent.
“I would never let my kid…”
“How could those parents just let him…”
“Just Use your words…”
Phaw…
“…use your words…” 🙄🙄🙄
How would you speak if you HAD NO WORDS?
Jonah needs the tools to effectively communicate, not punishment for trying to do so!
…
Tonight right as the meltdown was really ramping up, Jonah screamed, “I want ‘go get French fries!’ “
French fries.
He finally figured out how to let me know exactly what he wanted.
So I told him we could go get French fries.
He started immediately sobbing into my shoulder. The poor kid was “hangry.”
And the moment he knew I understood, the meltdown abated.
We went and got some chicken nuggets and French fries, and Jonah was happy as a clam.
“Look, I know this year has been tough on us buddy. I know it hasn’t been easy. I know you are doing your best to cope and make the most of every day.”
“And I know sometimes Daddy seems sad but looking back to where we started to where we are now…”
“Daddy is so proud of you, Jojo.”
“Daddy is happy.”
#ausome